In this photo taken Dec. 24, 2009, Jerry Brown is shown at his office in Oakland, Calif. The son of popular two term governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, he began his political career as a community college trustee in the 1960s. He rocketed to national prominence when he won the governorship in 1974 and ran three times for president. Most recently, he served for eight years as Oakland's mayor.

Democratic state Attorney General Jerry Brown, who has pledged "very soon" to formally kick off his gubernatorial campaign, issued an appeal for support to young Democratic voters Saturday - even as he refused to be pinned down on declaring himself a candidate.

"I've done pretty well, not doing anything," said Brown, addressing hundreds of California Young Democrats meeting in Sacramento on Saturday to make endorsements on statewide candidates.

Brown has until March 12 to file paperwork to run for governor, and one audience member asked Brown if he would indeed run for California's top office. His response: "I assume most of you have read 'The Art of War.'

"What does (it) say? The good general wins the war by not fighting. You defeat your adversaries strategy," he said. "I'm going to do that."

Brown's appearance underscored the importance to Democrats of the youthful electorate that boosted Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008.

Brown acknowledged that many in attendance were not even born when he became governor in 1975, but he said that many of the state's issues remain unchanged: a struggling economy and budget, preserving the environment and maintaining quality education.

He warned there will be "no easy fixes." Alissa Ko, president of the 7,000-member Young Democrats organization, said young voters will be driven by deep concerns that may also galvanize their parents: jobs, the economy and fully funding education.

Brown, the sole Democratic gubernatorial candidate, addressed some of those issues after he was welcomed with a standing ovation and cheers from the group.

And he didn't soften his stances when pressed on some issues, such as whether he would raise revenues - taxes - to pay for education and whether he would support state-funded universal health care.

He said the electorate is unlikely to approve raising taxes - though he noted with a laugh that younger voters tend to support them. "You don't even pay taxes on marijuana," he joked.

On state-supported universal health care, Brown said that California's crippling deficits mean that "I'd be very hesitant to do that" unless it could be paid for.

But many of the young Democratic activists present Saturday expressed confidence that Brown could match the two wealthy Republicans.

Max Szabo, who heads San Francisco Young Democrats, noted that Brown, who was first governor from 1975 to 1983, "finished his second term before I was born."

But both he and Nick Warshaw, the past president of the Young Democrats group, cited what they called Brown's record of innovation in state government, as mayor of Oakland and as a three-time presidential candidate.

"He was ahead of his time on issues we care about," said Warshaw, noting that Brown pushed solar energy, universal health care, and middle class tax cuts when he was first governor. "Back then, he was mocked" with labels like Gov. Moonbeam, but Warshaw said that "today, he looks prophetic."

But others were clearly nervous at Brown's stubborn refusal to officially acknowledge his run.

"I don't like how he's stayed quiet. He's not a go getter. He doesn't seem like he wants it," said Omar Torres, 28, a member of the Silicon Valley Young Democrats. "He's not energizing us. He's trying to save money."

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor who showed up to get the group's support, said that young voters and Democrats need not worry about Brown's passion or commitment.